A Dublin reader has been in touch to question the sharply rising price of parking permits on offer from Dublin City Council. Michael Bourke from Kilmainham says that in January 2003 his parking permit cost €20. The price went up last year to €25. "This year it will cost €35," he says, and while he accepts that the Council does "throw in eight visitor parking permits as well" he doubts he will need to use them "as parking is free after 7pm and on Sundays".

Bourke says the "whopping big increase of 75 per cent in two years" indicates that there is "obviously no price control there, Dublin City Council can charge what it likes".

When contacted, a spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said that although the price of a permit for existing holders had risen to €35 this year, increases in the cost of parking permits in Dublin were rare. She said that the cost of residential parking had remained at £20 for nearly 20 years prior to the changeover to the euro, a move which saw the price of parking upped in 2003 to €25. She said that in addition to raising the cost of permits to €35, councillors in Dublin had allocated eight visitor parking permits to residents, which, she said had a value of nearly €10.

While Bourke might feel hard done by having to pay an extra tenner for his parking permit, he might want to spare a thought for his neighbours who may have only recently moved into the area. Although the price of a parking permit for existing holders is €35, those who want to buy a permit for the first time have to fork out a rather more substantial €70 for the privilege.

What's more . .

Chris O'Dell from Cork alerted us to the savings that can be made by purchasing batteries online. He says one website, www.7dayshop.com, he found lists many makes and types of battery. On the site he found 40 Panasonic New Power Max 3 AA batteries selling for €13 or approximately €1.30 for four. This is, he says, around a quarter of the price charged in Irish retail outlets. "Admittedly, this Internet site sells small items free of VAT and one has to pay postage, but this company still makes money from the sale of batteries. The saving to the purchaser is huge."